Chapter 5 - The Trap at the Gala
The grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel was bathed in sparkling crystal light and soft violin music for the annual New York Real Estate Association Gala.
Derek and Brittany arrived early, wearing expensive evening wear they could no longer afford, desperately trying to network with investors to save Derek’s reputation. Brittany wore a tight crimson silk dress, holding her fake bump dramatically as she walked through the crowd.
"Just smile and be polite," Derek whispered nervously to her, adjusting his bow tie. "If we can secure a contract with the Sterling Group tonight, we can pay off the condo debt."
Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the ballroom swept open, and the crowd went completely silent.
Walking into the room arm-in-arm were Luca Moretti and me.
I wore an exquisite floor-length emerald silk gown that hugged my restored frame, my hair styled in soft, cascading curls, adorned with diamond earrings provided by Luca’s private jeweler. Beside me, Luca looked like royalty in a tailored black velvet tuxedo.
Murmurs of awe swept through the room as high-society guests cleared a path for us.
Derek stared at me, his jaw dropping so low his champagne glass almost slipped from his fingers. "Emma...?"
Brittany’s face turned bright red with pure, green-eyed jealousy as she looked at my diamonds, my dress, and the billionaire holding my hand with deep, protective devotion.
Luca led me straight toward Derek and Brittany, stopping right in front of them in the center of the ballroom, right beneath the main chandelier.
"Good evening, Derek," I said smoothly, taking a graceful sip of sparkling water. "You look tense."
"Emma... what are you doing here?" Derek stammered, sweating through his shirt collar as prominent board members began gathering around us. "This is an executive event!"
"Emma is the newly appointed Vice Chair of the Moretti Children’s Foundation," Luca announced loudly enough for the entire ballroom to hear. "She controls our twenty-million-dollar charitable healthcare grant."
Brittany stepped forward, trying to maintain her smug composure. "Well, that’s nice... but Derek and I are focusing on our growing family right now." She rubbed her fake bump dramatically. "Some of us don't need charity to be happy."
I looked down at her stomach, then looked up into her eyes with total pity.
May you like
"Brittany," I said softly, pulling a white envelope from my designer clutch. "You might want to check your medical portal. The insurance fraud division of St. Jude's Hospital just filed a formal inquiry regarding your falsified ultrasound records."
Brittany’s face drained of every drop of color. "What... what did you say?"
